Softball Game Preview: Carlsbad Cavemen/Cavegirls vs. Cibola Cougars

The Carlsbad Cavemen/Cavegirls will take on the Cibola Cougars at 9:00 a.m. on Friday. Carlsbad is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 9.3 runs per game this season.

Carlsbad is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Thursday. They were the clear victors by a 10-4 margin over Atrisco Heritage Academy. The victory continues a trend for the Cavemen/Cavegirls in their matchups with the Jaguars: they've now won five in a row.

Aubrey Hernandez

Batters Struck Out

05/15/25 @ Atrisco Heritage Academy	6
04/29/25 vs Roswell	13
04/25/25 @ Clovis	6
04/21/25 vs Hobbs	10
04/17/25 @ Roswell	8
+ 2 more games

Aubrey Hernandez was a major factor no matter where she played. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out six over seven innings pitched. She has been consistent: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in seven consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, getting on base in three of her four plate appearances with one RBI.

In other batting news, Carlsbad got a massive performance out of Katrina Ortega, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with six RBI, two doubles, and one run. That's the most hits Ortega has posted since back in March. Kalion Fuentes was another key player, going 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, two RBI, and one run.

Meanwhile, Cibola faced La Cueva in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Thursday. The Cougars fell just short of the Bears by a score of 4-3.

Carlsbad pushed their record up to 22-7 with the win, which was their ninth straight on the road. The road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 13.7 runs over those games. As for Cibola, their loss dropped their record down to 23-6.

Everything went Carlsbad's way against Cibola when the teams last played back in May of 2023, as Carlsbad made off with a 10-0 win. Do the Cavemen/Cavegirls have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Cougars turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.